In light of a recent accusation, I want to take some time to talk openly about something. I recently had someone accuse me of "hating conformation" and "bashing conformation". I can only assume that by conformation, they mean "Conformation" as a dog show event and not in a generic use of the word. "You hate structure" wouldn't make sense after all. I want to get something very, very clear. I do not hate Conformation.
Let me say that a little louder for the people in the back.
I. Do. Not. Hate. Conformation!
I do, however, find it extremely over-rated as a yardstick by which to assess the quality of dogs and breeders.
We have shown fairly extensively in ASDR and UKC conformation and I found it a valuable learning experience. We have stepped away from ASDR for a variety of reasons I've discussed in other blogs but it was an absolutely invaluable tool for education! UKC shows tend to be relatively enjoyable as far as conformation shows go, and often reward a type of dog that I can personally agree with as a general rule. We have stepped away from UKC due mostly to all my adult dogs being finished, there being no shows nearby, and wanting to put our resources into sports. However, the UKC conformation world has my full support. They run an honest show with an emphasis on dogs who can do what they're bred to do.
That said, I do have a lot of negative feelings about certain aspects of the conformation world. Let's go down a list of statements that you can actually quote me on.
1)I hate the fact that AKC conformation shows allow pro handlers. UKC does not do this and it makes for a much more fair experience. Anyone who has been around the AKC world for 2 seconds knows that there are judges who look at the wrong end of the leash. I understand not everyone is able to show their own dogs in conformation, and I'm fine with you sending dogs out with a friend or partner but I disapprove of pro handling.
2)I hate the fact that AKC conformation shows don't enforce their own rules against grooming products and altering dogs appearance. We routinely see dogs full of chalk and hair spray. UKC does not allow this. Dogs must be shown naturally.
3)I hate the fact that some people feel a conformation title is sufficient reason to breed a dog. There's more to a dog than how it looks and moves. Period. It isn't enough to prove that a dog is worthy, ESPECIALLY in a working breed. If you're breeding chihuahuas or pugs, well that's a pet breed. Their "Job" is to be an even tempered and cute companion. You can assess basic temperament and attractiveness in a conformation ring (though ideally, I'd like to see pet breeds at least have a beginner novice obedience title or rally novice title plus a CGC and a home manners title). But breeding an aussie or border collie or golden because it looks pretty going around a show ring is not ethical.
4)I hate the fact that many AKC judges reward incorrect type and dogs that don't adhere to the breed standard. Over and over, we see dogs who are physically incapable of doing what they were bred to do being rewarded in the breed ring. They can't even seem to get basic DQs right in our breed (and yes, I myself have titled dogs that were oversize; I'm just pointing out that if you think a conformation title proves a dog is within standard, it doesn't!) I've seen a MAS win breed at Westminster who I literally mistook for a sheltie at first glance. If I can't identify the breed at first glance, it lacks breed type and shouldn't be winning at one of the top shows in the world. My dogs aren't the most typey in the world either and if they won Westminster, I'd wonder what kind of drugs the judge is doing before the show.
5)I hate the fact that conformation breeders, particularly those in AKC, have ruined many working breeds by emphasizing flash and fads over dogs that are built to work. An aussie should not have a huge trot. A GSD should not have a super sloping back. A collie should not have so much hair that it can't survive in the heat to work all day. These are aberrations that go against the purpose of the breed. I would also include here breeding dogs with low drive in breeds that should be high drive. Beyond that, the general pursuit of appearance over health and function is disturbing. Show trends have led towards entire breeds being so extreme in build that they can't even reproduce naturally. This is actually morally reprehensible.
6)I don't find conformation titles inherently valuable; they're just subjective opinions. They don't "prove" anything. This is obvious by the fact that 10 judges can judge the same group of dogs and each one put up a different dog for Best of Breed. Just about any dog that isn't a disaster can get a conformation title with the right handler and enough patience. I think every dog in my program could finish in AKC if I threw enough time and money at it. I've seen TOP dogs in the conformation ring who have size DQs and very serious faults.
7)I don't find conformation titles to be particularly relevant to my personal goals as sport breeder. They won't make my dog weave better or herd better or do better in an obedience ring. Since those are the focuses of my breeding program,there just isn't any value to putting those "CH" letters in front of the dog's name. My puppy buyers have zero interest in conformation competition and I can get an honest structure critique of my dogs in a variety of other ways. I'd rather put my money into sports. There are simply better ways to prove a dog.
8)I don't think conformation shows are particularly "fun". Self explanatory. I've enjoyed showing in UKC but it's definitely my least favorite event in terms of just going to have a good time and I won't go to an event to JUST do UKC conformation. I go for performance; if conformation is offered, I will do that too.
9)Many people in the AKC conformation world have personalities I don't personally mesh with. I have legitimately met more hateful, ugly and condescending people in the AKC conformation world than in any other venue I've been involved with. It's a freaking snake pit. I do have great friends from that world too, so I'm not saying everyone there is like that. I'm saying that without fail every hateful dog person I've met was from the AKC show world. I have NEVER been treated in a hateful manner by anyone from the sport or working world. There is something about that micro-culture in AKC that allows for poor sportsmanship to run rampant.
10)I hate many of the trends and attitudes I see being common amongst conformation breeders that aren't directly related to conformation showing per se; ie, there is a culture of acceptable norms in the conformation breeding world that I have ethical issues with. Some of these do leak over to sport and working world but they're definitely more prevalent in the show world. This includes things like rehoming dogs when they're done breeding, keeping companion breed dogs in outdoor kennels and not with the family, charging exorbitant prices for puppies, linebreeding which ruins the genetic diversity of a breed, gate keeping new people who want to enter the breed, marketing pups as "sport dogs" even though the parents have no sport titles and pup shows no drive, lumping "performance and pet" pups into the same generic category, etc. I could write a whole blog on this alone. There is an entire culture there of things they think are normal that just aren't normal in the eyes of most people outside that world.
11)The AKC show world promotes the mutilation of dogs by allowing judges to discriminate against dogs with natural tails, dewclaws and ears. UKC and ASDR both have statements which indicate that natural dogs should not be penalized. AKC has made a deliberate choice not to do this and therefore people still feel compelled to mutilate their dogs in order to win. This is a problem. People will try to claim this goes back to the breed clubs who set the standard, but UKC has proven this doesn't have to be the case by including their own disclaimer at the bottom of every relevant breed standard making it clear that regardless of what the standard says, the organization itself will not allow discrimination against natural dogs.
All of those things listed above are very different from "hating conformation". Conformation itself is a great tool for getting young dogs in the ring. It's a great opportunity to talk to judges and get feedback on your dog. It's a great way to evaluate your dog's readiness for sports (do they handle the environment well? How do they feel about strangers touching them? Do they stress in the ring?) I have shown conformation. I will likely continue to dabble in it. I have learned a lot from doing so. I have gotten great feedback on my dogs. I don't regret being a part of that world.
To address the second accusation, that I "bash" conformation, I will say that I bash certain aspects of conformation. I bash the AKC conformation world as a whole. However, I'm actually quite supportive of smaller associations and their conformation shows. This is about me objecting to the culture that surrounds the AKC show world. If I was bashing UKC's Agility program that wouldn't mean I hate all agility. It would mean I hate THEIR program (and I actually do dislike their program for several reasons.) People need to stop reading into things. I'm a blunt person and I say exactly what I mean. If I hated conformation on the whole, I would say so.
So let's get one thing straight:
I. Do. Not. Hate. Conformation!
Comments